“I don’t need your shit right now, Hunter—”
Hunter cut him off. “Annabeth’s in the hospital, Ryder.”
Ryder was running out the door before he knew where he was going. His heart was racing, pure unfiltered terror clawing his insides. He jumped into the truck, started the engine and peeled out, stomping on the gas and flying down the street to the highway.
He left the truck in the emergency driveway and ran inside, fear driving him. His father was there. So were Josie and Hunter.
Josie pointed. “She’s in the back.”
Ryder headed in that direction, ignoring his brother’s scowl and his father’s concern. Right now, they didn’t matter. He just needed to know she was okay.
“Sir,” a nurse was calling out to him, but he ignored her, peeking behind curtains as he went. “Sir!”
He froze, turning to glare at her. “My wife. Annabeth Boone?”
The woman glared right back. “Follow me.”
He wanted to scream at her to tell him where Annabeth was so he could get there faster. She was alone—
“In here,” the woman said. “Calm. You hear me? She doesn’t need any excitement.”
He brushed past the woman into the dimly lit room. Annabeth lay on her left side, her hands resting on her stomach. She had a belt around her belly and the room was filled with a strange alternating, static-sounding beat. She looked so still, thin and fragile. As though he could break her by touching her.
He crossed the room and bent low, pressing kisses along her brow. “Annabeth?”
She turned, her eyes fluttering open. “Ryder?” Her chin crumpled.
“I’m here, Princess.” He sat on the bed, resting his forehead against hers. “Just let me stay.”
Tears spilled from her beautiful hazel eyes and down her cheeks.
“I love you, Annabeth. I love you.” His hands tangled in her hair. “Don’t ask me to leave you, because I can’t. Whether or not you think you need me, I know I need you. I can’t lose you.”
She was crying, hard sobs racking her body.
“Shh.” He held her close, his eyes burning. “What do you need? Tell me, whatever it is—let me do something.”
She slipped her arms around his neck. “Stay.”
He relaxed, melting against her. He was on the verge of tears, but he had to be strong. Together, they could handle whatever was happening. As long as he had her, it would be okay. He kissed her, cupping her cheeks, rubbing her tears away. “What did the doctor say? What happened?”
“I stood up—” she sniffed “—and got so dizzy. I guess I fainted.”
He frowned, kissing her forehead, then her cheeks. He didn’t want to think about her lying on the ground. “Why’d you do something like that?” he tried to tease.
She laughed, stroking his face with her hand. He covered her hand with his, pressing a kiss to her palm.
“I wasn’t there to catch you,” he murmured, his voice gruff.
“I’m sorry, Ryder—”
“Shh, we’ll figure this out.” He kissed her again. “You know why I call you Princess, Annabeth?” She shook her head. “That’s how I see you. Like a princess from a bedtime story. Sweet, giving, smart and funny. A good woman. Beautiful in every way.” He smoothed her hair back again. “Better than anything I’ll ever deserve. But everything I’ve always wanted. Calling you Princess helps me remember how special you are. And how damn lucky I am.”
She was staring at him with round, damp eyes.
“It’s going to be okay. Doc Meyer will know what’s wrong—”
“Probably looking at pre-eclampsia,” a voice from behind them announced.